Coach on the brink

Allegations of major NCAA violations could cost Indiana's Kelvin Sampson his job

February 14, 2008|By Skip Myslenski, Tribune reporter

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana basketball coach Kelvin Sampson could be fired if allegations of recent NCAA violations at the school are determined to be true.

The NCAA, quite simply, has branded Sampson a cheat and a liar. That's essentially what the 14-page "Notice of Allegations" the organization has sent to the school means. More specifically, that notice claims he violated recruiting restrictions imposed on him for his previous involvement in violations at Oklahoma and then denied doing that. In all, it cites five major violations.

"I expect him to coach tonight. I expect him to coach for the foreseeable future," he said Wednesday, 90 minutes before the Hoosiers lost to Wisconsin.

"I'll let you editorialize as to what 'foreseeable future' means. But we have work to do, which is expected of us. We are not going to rush to judgment."

What Greenspan and the school's administration must determine is how to react to the charges. Sampson is accused of violating recruiting restrictions imposed on him for his previous involvement in violations at Oklahoma and then denying that he did that.

Sampson already has had to forfeit a $500,000 pay raise and one scholarship next season in penalties the school previously had imposed.

Sampson, the notice says, "Acted contrary to the NCAA principles of ethical conduct ... failed to deport himself in accordance with the generally recognized high standard of honesty ... by providing the institution and the NCAA enforcement staff false or misleading information; and ... failed to promote an atmosphere for compliance within the men's basketball program."

In a statement released before his news conference, Greenspan said: "We view these allegations with grave concern and will cooperate fully with the NCAA as they adjudicate these charges."

"I have never intentionally provided false or misleading information to the NCAA," Sampson read from a prepared statement after his Hoosiers lost 68-66 to Wisconsin. "I intend to work within the NCAA process on this matter."

Indiana has until May 8 to provide a written response to the notice. The school then is expected to appear June 14 before the Division I Committee on Infractions.

According to its contract with Sampson, it appears Indiana could fire him if it chooses.

His contract stipulates: "If the Employee is found to be in violation of any NCAA regulations, the Employee shall be subject to disciplinary or corrective action ... including suspension without pay or termination of employment for significant or repetitive violations."

It also notes that the school can terminate the deal for "just cause." One definition of that term is: "A significant, intentional, or repetitive violation of any law, rule, regulation, constitutional provision, bylaw or interpretation ... [of] the NCAA."

Another definition, notable because it so parallels the words in one of the charges, is the "Failure to maintain an environment in which the coaching staff complies with NCAA ... rules and regulations."

In May 2006, the NCAA found Sampson guilty of violating rules at Oklahoma by making numerous, impermissible phone calls to prospective players and sanctioned the Sooners. Indiana, which had hired Sampson the previous March, adopted and transferred some of those penalties, most notably the one limiting the number of permissible calls he could make.

It is that sanction that he, assistant coach Jeff Meyer and former assistant Rob Senderoff now are charged with routinely ignoring.

"Senderoff and Meyer placed approximately 100 telephone calls that violated the ... recruiting restriction," it says at one point in the notice.

It also states: "On a number of occasions ... Sampson was present while a member of his coaching staff made telephone calls related to recruiting. Sampson was prohibited from doing so ... "